John Thackara

John Thackara|Essays

Sweat Equity Infra

The Millau Viaduct is a tourist attaction in the making. Future vistors will gawk at it and wonder: “how *did* they build that?”

John Thackara|Essays

From Ecstasy to Exergy: Running Out of Easy Copper

The days of abundant resources and falling prices are over forever, the consequences for many so-called “green technologies” will be devastating.

John Thackara|Essays

From Participatory Mapping to Coastal Livelihoods

The Buckminster Fuller Challenge, finalist presentations are taking place in New York City on Wednesday June 8, 6-8pm.

John Thackara|Essays

Energy: A Sense of Loss

Whenever electricity is transmitted from one place to another a certain amount is simply lost. In older grids, energy is wasted overcoming resistance in the lines themselves.

John Thackara|Essays

Open: A Survival Issue

A new book from the Dutch publisher Bis, Open Design Now, includes essays, cases and visuals on various issues of Open Design.

John Thackara|Essays

A Smooth Journey

Two images have preoccupied me in recent days.

John Thackara|Essays

From Eds & Meds to Farms and Watersheds

Eds & Meds behemoths that bestride Pittsburgh's skyline are not the only game in town. Even a small meadow contains a lot of plants.

John Thackara|Essays

Rotterdam: Where Time is no Longer Money

Twelve-year-old children in Rotterdam have never known a time when their city was not being rebuilt around them.

John Thackara|Report

Off-Grid Water

Strategies and resources for water conservation.

John Thackara|Essays

Why Does Laura Bush’s Friend Want to Poison Our Water?

Dr Martin Schuepbach from Dallas, Texas, has the following plan, concerning natural gas, for the Cevennes region of France, where I live.

John Thackara|Opinions

Does Bilbao Need Another Guggenheim?

Ideas for remaking Basque country that go far beyond fancy architecture.

John Thackara|Essays

Utopia is Here

Ridley Scott's film Blade Runner, made in 1982, portrays a dystopian Los Angeles as it might be in 2019. In just eight years we are due to find out whether or not the film was an accurate prediction.